Page 2 of 2
Re: Alternator amp'age
Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 9:24 pm
by X5Sport
Convention is that anything for a 12V car is shown as '12V'. Even a 12V car battery actually isn't - it's 12.6V DC
Alternator amp'age
Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 9:55 pm
by dark_stranger
Sorry for being dim, i wont pretend to understand. so could i put a 12volt 140amp alternator on my car? All the car part sites, when i enter my reg, bring up a range of alternators from 80amp to 150amp, with 12 and the odd 14v units. With the 140 amp ones being the dearest.
Re: Alternator amp'age
Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 10:00 pm
by X5Sport
Personally I would expect it to be a 12V/140A unit. I've never seen a car one listed as a 14V one......for exactly the reason you're asking, it confuses the hell out of people!
'12V' ones all produce 14.4 - 14.6V when running anyway......that what a 12V battery needs to charge it. Those listed as '14V' are probably listing the output voltage rather than the type of vehicle it's intended for i.e. a car.
Richard